Air conditioning apparatus



July 23, 1940.

R. D. 'TOUTON AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1938 HUM/D03 74T MVE/VTOR 7715/? 2 Tauorz gym r44 Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Rush D. Touton,

Oynwyd, Pa.,

assignor to Wurton Machine Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application September 20, 1938, Serial No. 230,763

large area, such as may be used for storage, the

processing or manufacturing of materials, and the like.

The apparatus in accordance with this inven- 6 tion will be found to beof special advantage in connection with the maintenance of uniformconditions of temperature and humidity in enclosed areas used for thestorage, processing or manufacturing, and the like, of materials whichrequire the maintenance of uniform conditions .of

temperature and humidity and which are especially susceptible to changesin such conditions. Thus, by way of example, the apparatus in accordancewith this invention will be found to be 2 of special advantage for themaintenance of uniiorm conditions of temperature and humidity inenclosed areas in which tobacco is stored, processsed or manufactured.

Heretofore for the purposes for which the apparatus in accordance withthis invention, as have been indicated, is intended, it has beencustomary to supply conditioned air through ducts from a remotelylocated air conditioning'apparatus and again to introduce heat directlyinto an enclosed area, as from a wall radiator, or other source of 3heat located within the area for the maintenance of temperature and tointroduce water directly into the air within the area through the mediumof a plurality of spray heads disposed within the 85 area remote fromthe source of heat.

The procedure and instrumentalities heretofore used for the purposesaccomplished by the apparatus according to this invention have, forvarious reasons, proved inefficient for the purposes intended andconsequently unsatisfactory.

' Thus, where it is attempted to maintain uniform conditions oftemperature and humidity within an enclosed area by the introductionthrough ducts of conditioned air supplied by apparatus located remotefrom the area, non-uniform conditions of temperature and humidity occurwithin the area inasmuch as it is impossible by suchmeans to obtain .auniform circulation within the area. Change in the condition of 60 theair variously within the area results in nonuniformity in the conditionof the air as a whole.

Again, such means will not respond to changes in the condition of theair with sufiicient rapidity to negative effects producingnon-uniformity.

55 Where a source of heat is provided within the 'perature and humiditythroughout enclosed areas area and water is introduced into the areathrough the medium of a plurality of spray heads located remote from thesource of heat, desired uniform conditions within the area areunobtainable and, indeed, with such means non-uniform conditions result.Thus, with such a system no provision is made for the introduction offresh air. Circulation of air within the area depends upon difference inthe condition of the air in different parts of the conditioning chamber.0 Local loss of heat through walls and the like, and

I local input of heat and moisture from workers,

machine, materials stored or in process, etc. create localized areas inwhich the temperature drops unduly which results in condensation; and 15further areas in which the relative humidity drops due to local heatinput.

Again, the introduction of water through a plurality of spray headsremote from the source of heat and the reductions in temperatureoccurring locally variously within the area, serves as a definitelimitation upon the amount of water which may be evaporated into the airand, in the final analysis, with such means non-uniform rather thanuniform conditions of temperature and humidity are obtained.

Now in accordance with this invention an apparatus is provided whichis'highly emcient for the. maintenance of uniform conditions oftemadapted forthe storage, processing, manufactur- 0 ing of materials,and the like, requiring maintenance of uniform conditions and, moreespecially, materials susceptible to changes in conditions, such astobacco.

In accordance with this invention procedure and apparatus are providedby which conditioned 7 air is circulated uniformly within an enclosedarea, the'direction of circulation with respect to means for heating andhumidifying being controlled with consideration for the conditionsexisting variously within the enclosed area and, further, so that in itscirculation the air will pick up the maximum amount of heat available inthe area fromworkers, machines, lights, etc. to the end such heat may beutilized for evaporating moisture for the maintenance of uniformhumidity. Again, in accordance with this invention, fresh air may besupplied for circulation and the supply of heat and moisture to the airwill be 50 under definite interrelated control so that variation intemperature or in humidity will be at once compensated for withoutupsetting the desired relative balance through compensation for changein one or the other.

vention will be found to be extremely simple and which the, method willbe economic in construction and operation and will, with maximumefficiency, maintain any desired uniform conditions of temperature andhumidity throughout an area, with the avoidance of areas of greater orless temperature or greater or less humidity than that desired, withavoidance of any condensation of moisture on walls or product and withmaximum comfort to workers where the area is used for processing ormanufacturing materials.

Economy in the operation of the apparatus will be promoted due to thefact that the controlled direction of circulation to and from theheating and humidifying means, which will be located in closeassociation, will insure the utilization for the evaporation of water ofheat input from the area, as from workers, lights, machinery, and thelike, and such heat input will furtherpromote efiiciency in compensatingfor heat losses, as through walls.

Having now indicated, in a general-way, the nature and purpose of thisinvention, I will proceed to a detailed description of a preferredembodiment of the invention from the apparatus standpoint in connectionwith the operation of described, all with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

The single figure is a diagrammatic view of an area in which it isdesired to provide uniform conditions of temperature and humidity,equipped with apparatus in accordance with this invention, a' side viewof the apparatus being shown partly in section.

In the drawing a indicates an enclosed area, as a room; in which it isdesired to maintain uniform conditions of temperature and humidity. Theenclosed area a may be adapted for the storage of material or for theprocessing or manufacture of material. Thus, the area a may be adaptedfor the storage, processing or'manufacture of tobacco, or other materialsusceptible to changes in temperature and humidity and demanding instorage or in processing uniform conditions of temperature and humidity.

Within the enclosed area a is a casing b, provided at its rear with ascreen or filter a: and a closure, as a door, 0, hinged on its upperedge laterally instead of upwardly, as shown.

A conduit .e, provided with a valve or damper 1', leads from within thecasing to without the storage space a. and permits admission of outsideor fresh air to the casing when desired.

The forward end of the casing opposite to the screen or filter a: isprovided with louvers n, which are adjustable for more or less openingor closing of the forward end of the casing by means of the lever o. Thelouvers will also'control the direction of the discharge from thecasing.

Within the casing 1), adjacent its forward end is a coil g, connectedwith a source of heating fluid, as steam or hot water, through theconduit 71. and connected with the conduit 2' for the discharge ofheating fluid. The coil 9 may be connected with a source of coolingfluid, as cooledbe connected with both a source of heating fluid.

and a source of cooling fluid through separate conduits controlled'bysuitable valves to enable either the heating fluid or the cooling fluidto pass through the coil.

Within the casing, behind the'coil g is a fan m, arranged to be drivenby a motor m, located within the casing and suitably supported from thebottom thereof. The fan m will serve to draw air from the enclosed areaa into the casing through the screen or filter a: and discharge it fromthe casing through the coil 9. Adjustment ofthe closure and of thelouvers n will determine the amount and direction of circulation of theair through the area a and the casing b.

Immediately in front of the casing b is positioned a Water ejectorcomprising a water chamber pand an air nozzle q. The water chamber isconnected through a valved conduit '1' with a source of water and theair nozzle is connected to a source of air under pressure through aconduit s provided with a pressure gauge t. As will be obvious, whenwater is admitted to-the water chamber p and air is admitted through theconbe evaporated by. the air discharged through the heat interchanger bythe fan m.

Desirably the amount of water sprayed into duit s, the water will bedischarged or atomized the air .discharged from the heat interchangermay be so adjusted with reference to the volume and temperature of theair discharged so that not only will the air evaporate all of the watersprayed, but also the relative humidity of the air after passing. thespray will not be above 90%.

Within the area a are suitably located a thermostat k and a humidostatv. The'thermostat and humidostat will preferably be of the graduatedaction type. The humidostat and the thermostat, respectively, will beadapted to control air admitted to conduits w and I through a conduit 10leading from a source of air under pressure. The conduit Z connects witha valve in the heating or cooling fluid conduit h. The opening or degreeof opening of valve 9' is dependent upon the pressure of air in theconduit 1.

The conduits through which air is supplied to the water ejector oratomizer is provided with a valve u, the opening or .degree of openingof which is governed by the pressure of air in the conduit w undercontrol of the humidostat v. Conduit h is provided with a bypass nbypassing valve 7' and with a valve t, the opening or degree of openingof which is controlled by the pressure of air in'the conduit 112 underthe control of the humidostat v and in turn the conduit s is providedwith a by-pass y bypassing the valve u. and provided with a valve 2, theopening or degree of opening depending upon the air pressure in theconduit I under the control of the thermostat is.

It will now be noted that in the apparatus according to this invention,the direction of circulation of air in the area a is controlled and maybe varied at will by adjustment of the closure 0 and the louvers n.Again, it will be noted that air passing through the casing b under theimmediately adjacent its exit from the coil g I in which it is heated.

Again, it will be noted that the humidostat v and thermostat It will beset for maintenanceof the desired conditions of temperature andhuaiacarec midity in the area a and that on any variance of either thecondition of temperature or humidity the thermostat or humidostat willoperate to vary the amount of heating or cooling fluid passed throughthe coil g or the amount of air admitted to the water atomizer orejector.

However, it will be particularly noted .that where a variation intemperature occurs and causes, for example, the thermostat to operate toefiect variation in the opening of the valve 7' for variation in theamount of heating fluid passed through the coil 9, the thermostat willat the same time operate to efiect a variation in the set of the-valve zcontrolling the by-pass, y.

in the conduit s through" which air is supplied a to the atomizer orejector,iwith the result that to introduce into the coil necessaryvariation in the amount of water supplied to the air, with considerationfor change in temperature of the 'air efie'cted by the thermostatresulting from variation in the amount of heating fluid or cooling fluidpassed through the coil y, will be eifected simultaneously withvariation in the amount of heating and cooling fluid. As a consequence,correction of variations in the relative humidity arising from variationin the temperature will not have to await reaction of the humidostat 2).

The humidostat will operate in a. similar man-' ner to instantaneouslyvary the amount of heating or cooling fluid passed through the coil 9 tocompensate for variation iii-temperature resulting from variation intheamount of water supplied to the air on reaction of the humidostat tocorrect change in relative humidity.

As a result of the interconnected control by the humidostat and thethermostat of the heating or cooling fluid and of the water, delay incompensating for changes in the humidity or temperature resultant fromvariation in the amount of heat or water supplied to the air, by

operation of the thermostator humidostat, will -be confined to aminimum, and as a consequence maximum uniformity of temperature andrelative humidity in the area a will be'maintained.

As will be appreciated, the humidostat and thermostat andthe balancecontrolled thereby will be initially set.for the maintenance of desiredconditions and the apparatus will be controlled for the maintenanceeration above described.

The admission of fresh'air through the conduit e, under control 'of thevalve I will be adjusted as may be dictated. However, as will beobvious, the amount of fresh air admitted may be very readily controlledby manipulation of valve ,1, or automatically, for example, throughcontrol of valve 1 by humidostat 22. Thus, valve 1 may be actuated forthe admission of fresh air into the circulation at a point adjacent tothe heat interchanger coil 9 by the pressure of air in an extension 2 ofthe air conduit to under control of humidostat v. v Where the area a isof any very large extent or where desired or indicated, a plurality ofunits similar to that described in detail may be positioned generally inthe area and may be controlled by the thermostat k and humidostat v, orby separate humidostats and thermostats.

As has, it is believed, been clearlypindicated, the device abovedescribed maybe used for cooling as well as for heating, it being onlynecessary g cooling fluid where cooling is desired and heating fluidwhere heating is desired. Humidification where required thereoi by theop-' in either case will be effected by the discharge of water into theair discharged from casing 17 by means of the atomizer locatedimmediately ad- As has been indicated, the apparatus in accordance withthis invention will be found to be highly simple and economical inoperation and, at the same time, provides both heating and humidifyingelements in juxtaposition, means for the control of the direction ofcirculation through control of the direction of the intake and outputfrom the casing b and interconnecting controls for the heating orcooling fluid and water introduction units. The apparatus will be foundto be of the highest emciency for the maintenance of control ofuniformconditions throughout an area.

WhatI claim and desire to Patent is:

1. An air conditioning apparatus for the main= tenance of a circulationof conditioned air within an enclosed space comprising, in combination,a heat interchanger located in the upper part of the enclosed space,means for circulating air in the enclosed space and through theheatinter= protect by Letters changer, means, including a nozzle connectedwith a supply of air under pressure and asso-= responsive to thehumidity obtaining in the en--' closed space for controlling saidmeans'for admitting air from outside the enclosed space, said spraybeing of such volume and dispersion that all the water of the spray willbe evaporated by the air circulated through the heat interchanger.

2. An air conditioning apparatus for the main-- tenance of a circulationof conditioned air within an enclosed space comprising; in combination,a

heat interchanger located in the upper portion of the enclosed space,means for the supply of a heating medium to the heat interchanger, meansfor' circulating air in the enclosed space and through the heatinterchanger, means adjacent tothe heat interchanger for controlling thedirection of the flow of air from the heat interchanger into theenclosed space, means, including a nozzle connected with'a supply of airunder r pressure and associated with a'nozzle connected with a watersupply,adjacent the outlet from the heat interchanger for delivering aspray of water into the path of the air as'it leaves theheatinterchanger, means positioned in the enclosed space remote from theheat 'interchanger and in the direction of travel of the air andrespectively'responsive to temperature and humidity

